RR-AZ Alum/NHRA veteran Clay Millican, along with David Grubnic, & Lance Larson to campaign new NHRA Top Fuel team in 2015

There will be a new team in the NHRA Top Fuel class in 2015 with some very familiar names.

Veteran Top Fuel driver Clay Millican, along with fellow veteran driver-turned-crew-chief David Grubnic and co-crew chief and general manager Lance Larson will campaign a new car in 2015 for Stringer Performance.

The announcement was made Friday at the Performance Racing Industry in Indianapolis.

The team will be owned by Doug Stringer, with sponsorship from Parts Plus, WELD and Great Clips.

Stringer, who has built a very successful company that manages marketing programs and sponsorship for a number of companies, is returning to drag racing, where he formerly was team general manager for Jim Epler’s Rug Doctor Funny Car in 1996.

After that, Stringer worked as GM for Akins Motorsports, a team on the former NASCAR Nationwide Series (now Xfinity Series). Stringer lured Great Clips hair salons to become primary sponsor on a team that featured NASCAR Sprint Cup starKasey Kahne.

“Returning to drag racing is something I have always wanted to do, so this is really a special time for me,” Stringer said in an NHRA media release. “I am very proud of the team we have put together.

“Clay and I go back many years and he is someone I have a huge respect for. I also have all the confidence in the world in David and Lance to not only lead this team but to build Stringer Performance into a championship-caliber organization.”

Millican is looking forward to his return to the Top Fuel ranks.

“Doug and I have talked for many years about going racing together so to finally see that dream come true is just awesome,” he said. “We have assembled a great team with everyone putting their heart and soul into making sure that we are competitive from the moment we show up for the first race (2015 season opener in early February in Pomona, California).

“None of us will be happy with mediocre performance – we plan on showing up to win and by end of the season be in contention for a championship. I’m extremely excited to have the continued support of Parts Plus who has stood with me for the last four years.”

Grubnic will be making his crew chief debut after a successful career behind the wheel as a driver.

“Building a team from scratch is obviously quite a challenge but Doug is ensuring that we have all the resources necessary to do it and do it right,” says Grubnic. “Doug, Lance, Clay and I are all fierce competitors so turning Stringer Performance into a championship-caliber team is the end goal.

“We’re all putting our blood, sweat and tears into this. We want to win races and championships and I don’t think any of us will be satisfied with anything less.”